Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Technical Bulletins: Conducting Effective Roadblocks (2010), Melissa Ashburn

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

Roadblocks should be conducted in such a manner that will sustain the prosecution of charges brought against persons arrested in the operation.

Overtime And The Police: Application Of The Overtime Provisions Of The Fair Labor Standards Act On Law Enforcement, Rex Barton

MTAS Publications: Full Publications

This publication is an overview of the impact of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions on law enforcement agencies.

Tennessee Municipal Benchmarking Project Fy2005, Al Major

Tennessee Municipal Benchmarking Project

FY2005 annual report to compare the relative cost, efficiency and effectiveness of a set of municipal services by using a collaborative approach with the participating cities, and to set standards and identify "best practices" in municipal government for use and comparison by all Tennessee cities.

Hot Topic: Mental Evaluations For City Employees: Tennessee Enters Into A Consent Decree With The United States Department Of Justice, Rex Barton

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The State of Tennessee has entered into a consent decree with the United States Department of Justice to settle an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) case contesting the validity of several statutes concerning the minimum qualifications for certain public safety employees.

Drug Fund Manual, Ralph Cross, Rex Barton

MTAS Publications: Full Publications

The Drug Fund is a special revenue fund where revenues and expenditures must be accounted for separately from the General Fund.

Technical Bulletins: Fire (And Police) Departments Liable For Negligent Response, Sid Hemsley

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

Under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act municipalities are liable for the negligence of their employees, with some exceptions. One of those exceptions is “discretionary functions” (Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) 29-20-205). However, the act does not define that term. The Tennessee Supreme Court has grappled with both a definition and application of the term in Gordon, et al. vs. City of Henderson, 766 S.W.2d 784 (1988). Although that case involved the delivery of municipal fire services, it contains some language that should cause Tennessee municipalities to look closely at the manner in which they deliver all public safety services.

Hot Topic: Important Notice Of Changes To P.O.S.T. Commission Rules, Rex Barton

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Commission recently enacted several rule changes, several of which will have a significant impact on local law enforcement agencies.

Hot Topic: 2000 Legislative Changes Of Interest To Local Law Enforcement, Rex Barton

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The 2000 legislative session resulted in numerous changes that affect law enforcement in Tennessee. This publication highlights some of the more important changes.

Technical Bulletins: Physical Fitness In Public Safety: Administering Ability And Agility Tests Properly, Don Darden

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

Cities should develop a medical and physical fitness testing program to better serve the public safety needs of their citizens and protect the lives of police and fire fighters.

Hot Topic: Requirements Of Fingerprint Law, Rex Barton

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Fingerprint Law was originally passed in the 1997 legislative session. The original law mandated that local law enforcement agencies (1) Fingerprint every person arrested and forward the fingerprint cards to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and (2) Maintain at least an 85 percent retention rate. (This means that the TBI should not reject more than 15 percent of the fingerprint cards due to poor quality.)

Technical Bulletins: Fire (And Police) Departments Liable For Negligent Response, Sid Hemsley

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

Under the Tennessee Tort Liability Act municipalities are liable for the negligence of their employees, with some exceptions. One of those exceptions is "discretionary functions" (Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 29-20-205). However, the act does not define that term. The Tennessee Supreme Court recently grappled with both a definition and application of the term in Gordon, et al. v. City of Henderson, 766 S.W.2d 784 (1988). Although that case involved the delivery of municipal fire services, it contains some language that should cause Tennessee municipalities to look closely at the way they deliver all public safety services.

Technical Bulletins: The Police Bill Of Rights: Not For Everyone, Dennis Huffer, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

In 1989, the state legislature passed an Act affecting the manner in which certain police officers are disciplined. The Act, Chapter 398 of the 1989 General Assembly, known as the Police Bill of Rights, requires that, effective January 1, 1990, questioning of any police officers on matters that are likely to lead to the discipline of officers for punitive reasons, take place at a reasonable time and place designated by the investigating official. Of extreme significance is the fact that the act applies only to municipalities that already provide a property interest in employment and have no other established grievance …

Technical Bulletins: New Law Changes The Definition Of Police Officer And Sets For Auxiliary/Reserve Officers In Tennessee, Joe Muscatello

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

This Technical Bulletin discusses changes in Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) and the Rules of Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Commission regarding the status and definition of part-time, temporary, reserve, and auxiliary officers within police departments.

Technical Bulletins: The Business Of Crime: Research Findings Reveal Economic Motives, Phillip E. Keith

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

This Technical Bulletin discusses the business of crime and advises that understanding crime as a business is paramount when public officials develop policies and programs designed to prevent or contain criminal activity.

Municipal Law Enforcement Management Report 1989 No. 2: Managing Liability Exposure: A Model For Law Enforcement, Phillip E. Keith

MTAS Publications: Full Publications

Learning methods to address liability exposure are required for municipal managers to act effectively. This report is intended to heighten the awareness of local municipal managers by reviewing causes of liability and outlining risk reduction strategies.

Municipal Law Enforcement Management Report 1989 No. 3: Weapons Retention, Phillip E. Keith

MTAS Publications: Full Publications

Weapons Retention will assist elected officials, city managers, and law enforcement administrators to identify issues when selecting weapons for their police departments and to recognize the importance of training and legal issues that must be considered. This report also discusses the selection of weapons, the minimum training required by the State of Tennessee, and the legal issues surrounding their use.

The Police Response To Domestic Violence Incidents, Phillip E. Keith

MTAS Publications: Full Publications

Within the past few years, domestic violence has come to the forefront in demanding the attention of the criminal justice system. This report explains many of the myths associated with domestic violence, reviews the literature on domestic violence, and provides practical steps for establishing policies and procedures related to domestic violence within law enforcement agencies.

MTAS Municipal Law Enforcement Management Report no. 1

Technical Bulletins: Procedures For Issuance Of Ordinance Summonses In Lieu Of Arrest Warrants, Randy Williams, Dennis Huffer

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

In April, 1986, Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 7-63-201 through 7-63-204 became effective, authorizing municipalities to appoint enforcement officers by resolution or ordinance to issue ordinance summonses in the areas of sanitation, litter control, and animal control. Attached to this bulletin are sample ordinance and resolution formats.

Technical Bulletins: Flsa Amendments Being Enforced For All Municipal Employees, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

This Technical Bulletin clarifies aspects of the Fair Labor Standards Act, making Tennessee cities aware that the Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor, includes all city employees except fire and police personnel in audits of hours worked and wages paid.

Technical Bulletins: Residential And Automobile Security Courtesy Citations, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

This Technical Bulletin includes a reproduction of the "courtesy citation" issued by police in Sterling Heights, MI. Sterling Heights police officers issue residential security courtesy citations to citizens whose homes present a target for the would-be burglar or thief.

Technical Bulletins: Declaration Of Overtime Exemption For Fire And Police Personnel, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

This Technical Bulletin addresses the exemption of fire and police personnel from the standard requirement of a 40-hour work week. Included is a sample resolution declaring the intention of a town/city to claim exemption of Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) relative to overtime wages for public safety personnel.

Technical Bulletins: Dol Final Regulations On Police And Fire Personnel, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

On Friday, December 20, 1974, the Department of Labor issued final regulations governing the minimum wages and maximum hours for police and fire personnel.

Technical Bulletins: Dol Preliminary Flsa Regulations On Police And Firefighters, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

On Friday, November 1, 1974, the Department of Labor issued preliminary regulations governing the minimum wages and maximum hours for police and fire personnel. This Technical Bulletin summarizes the preliminary regulations.